I think most Baby Boomers realize that strong core muscles support and stabilize the spine and provide a base of support for every move we make with our bodies. We know that core endurance can help eliminate many types of low back pain. And we know that a strong core is essential for maintaining balance as we age. But if you haven't been a regular exerciser for a few years, you may find it hard to keep up in the abs of steel class at your local gym, or even beginning Pilates.
Tags: balance, Baby Boomer, core exercises, abdominal exercises
The 76 million Baby Boomers in the U.S. are already redefining aging and retirement. Not content to sit on the porch in their rocking chairs, Baby Boomers are determined to maintain their active lifestyles well into their golden years.
Tags: Baby Boomer, lifestyle habits, exercise, personal training
Staying (or getting) fit over 40 isn't the walk in the park it was in your 20s. Chances are your metabolism has started to slow down a bit, the demands on your time are overwhelming, and you may be facing injuries or illnesses that make exercise a challenge.
Tags: Baby Boomer, lifestyle habits, exercise, weight loss, motivation
I know, I know. You don't want to bulk up, you just want to "tone." If you think another hour on the treadmill or elliptical is going to do that for you, think again. There's only one way to tone muscle and that's to use it. You build muscle by contracting it to overcome the resistance of some force: gravity, your body weight or a dumbbell, for example. The work of overcoming that resistance causes microtrauma in the fibers, and it's the repairing of that microtrauma that builds muscle.
Tags: Baby Boomer, exercise, bone density, weight training, weight bearing exercise
For me, one of the best things about getting older is getting your priorities straight. You begin to know from experience what you really value and how important it is to act on those values. When it comes to my fitness routines, I'm happy to report that the older I get, the less I care about the size of my clothes, the number on the scale or how hot I look (I'm afraid that horse has left the barn).
Tags: Baby Boomer, body image, functional fitness, cardiovascular exercise, endurance
Why do people exercise? Well, once it's a habit, people exercise because it feels good, but a lot of people begin an exercise program because they want to lose weight. If you're overweight, losing even a few pounds is a good thing, but there are lots of other reasons to exercise. If you're a Baby Boomer or Senior (heck, even if you're a twentysomething), regular exercise offers many benefits that will improve the quality of your life.
Tags: Baby Boomer, exercise, weight loss, body image, osteoporosis, bone density, senior exercise, cardiovascular exercise, flexibility, Type 2 diabetes
You may have heard about functional fitness, a relatively new trend in fitness training, but you likely still have questions. Here’s a round-up of all the essential information you need to understand this fitness trend and determine if it’s a good choice for you.
Tags: balance, Baby Boomer, exercise, strength, senior exercise, functional fitness
Show of hands: who can no longer touch your toes? How about reaching back to zip up your dress? Low back pain, anyone? If this sounds like you, you could have a problem with decreased flexibility. Flexibility decreases naturally as we age because muscles, tendons and ligaments stiffen and lose elasticity, but you don't have to lose the ability to manage your daily activities. Maintaining and even improving your flexibility is possible at any age with just a few exercises done regularly.
Tags: Baby Boomer, safety, senior exercise, flexibility
By the time most of us get into our 40s, 50s or 60s, we start to have achey, creaky, painful joints. The pains can result from injuries we've sustained, health conditions like arthritis, or just poor movement patterns and muscle instability that we've developed over the years. The knees in particular are a common source of pain, because they get used with every step we take.
Tags: Baby Boomer, exercise, senior exercise, functional fitness
Everybody wants to know, what's the best exercise for me? If you're a Baby Boomer, you're at that age where your body doesn't work quite the same way it did 15 or 20 years ago. So what's the best exercise to keep Baby Boomers fit and healthy?
Tags: balance, Baby Boomer, osteoporosis, bone density, strength, weight bearing exercise
